Tucking mechanism



Nov. 23, 1937. D. E. KEECH 2,100,282

TUCKING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZZZ 6,1

Nov. 23, 1937.

D. E. KEECH 2,100,282

TUCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 23, 1937. D.E. KEECH 2,100,282

I TUCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5. r 5 a I a Ir I a v I 5 r.

Nov. 23, 1937. D. E. KEECH TUCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 4 WWI 70F Patented Nov. 23, 1937' PATENT OFFICE TUCKINGMECHANISM Dana. E. Keech, Glendale, Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Food Machinery Cornotation, a corporation ofDelaware Application February 12, 1934, Serial No. 710,845

22 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of lidding overfill'ed boxes and thelike and is: particularly use- 111 in the: fruit andvegetable packingindustries.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide. improvedmeans fortucking in or gathering in. that'portion'of the contents of anoverfilled box which. tends to overflow the sides and ends of the box asthe lid is being pressed onto thebox.

..The manner of accomplishing the foregoing object as: well as furtherobjects and advantages will? be. made manifest in the followingdescription. taken. in connection with the accompanying drawingsinwhich:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a box lidding machine comprising apreferred embodiment parts included in the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4; is' a. horizontal sectional view taken on V the. liner4--4 of.Fig. 1.

Fig. is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of'Fig. 4 showing theoperative position of certain parts. disclosed therein- Fig. 5A is anenlarged sectional detail view taken on the line 5A5A of Fig- 5;

'.Fig. 6- is a vertical sectional view taken on the linex66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, horizontal, sectional View taken on the line l-lofFig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a portion of themechanism included in the machineof my invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the machineshown in Fig. l illustrating the operation of certain parts thereof.

Figs. 10- and 11 arefragmentarysemi-diagrammaticala views showing theoperationof certain parts of my invention.

Figs. 12 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a modified form oflidding machine of my invention.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on theline: iii-i3 ofiFig. 12.

Figs. 14 and 15 are sectional views similar to Fig. 13 showingsuccessive operative positions of i the mechanism disclosed. therein.

Referring specifically to. the drawings, a box lidding machine Icomprising a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in Fig. 1,this machine including a frame it, a'power unit 22, a nailingtable .13,a nailing mechanism It, a strapper: l5, and a control mechanism IS.

Withthe exception of the nailing table IS, the machine It disclosedherein is substantially identical to the lidding machine shown anddescribed in the copending application of Hale Paxton, Gerald C. Paxton,and Harry D. Benson for Automatic lid nailing and strapping machine,Serial No. 688,104, filed September 5, 1933. The frame ll, power unitI2, nailing mechanism 14, strapper I 5, and control mechanism l6 will bedescribed but briefly herein, a more detailed description thereof beingset forth in the above referred to copending application.

The frame I l includes a rectangular angle iron base portion Hi to whichthe lower ends of four vertical posts l9v are secured. Provided on eachof the posts 69 is a bearing (Figs. 2 and 8) in which the trunnion 2| ofa cam plate 22 is journailed. Fixed on the trunnion 2| outside of theposts l9, as shown in Fig. 2, are levers 23 having springs 24 attachedthereto, the latter urging the cam plates into the position shown inFig. 2. Connected to the upper ends of the posts 19 are front and rearhorizontal plates 25, one of the latter being shown in Fig. 1.

The power unit I2 is also clearly shown in the aforesaid. applicationand includes an electric motor and suitable mechanism for raising andlowering the nailing table l3 under the power of said motor.

The nailing table l3 includes front and rear longitudinal frame members26 and transverse members 27 and 28 as shown in Fig. 4, the members 26being fixed to the upper end ofthe power unit 12. Journalled at oppositeends thereof in the transverse members 21 and 28 are front and rearshafts 29 as shown in Figs. 1, 6, and 8. At opposite ends of the shafts29 are depending arms 30, the latter being positioned just inside of thetransverse members 2? and 28 of the table l3 as shown in Fig. 1.Rotatably mounted on suitable pins 32 at the lower ends of each of thearms are rollers 33, the latter being positioned so as to contact thecam plates 22 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Formed on each of the shafts 29 adjacent the arms 39 are bearings 34 andextending upward from each of the shafts 29 between the bearings 34 arefour Vertical bars 35. Fixed on the bars 35 above the shafts 29 arehorizontal bars 36 having arcuate portions 31 at opposite ends thereof.Bolted to the upper ends of the bars 35 are horizontal flusher plates40, the outer ends of which are provided with bearings 4| which areaxially aligned with the bearings 34 of shafts 29. Fixed on the extremeouter ends of the shafts 29, outside of the transverse members 21, arearms 42. The arms 42 of the front shaft 29 extend downwardly while thearms 42 of the rear shaft extend upward as shown in Fig. 8. Joining theends of the arms 42 at each end of the nailing table l3 are diagonalcross-links 43 by means of which the rotational movements of the shafts29 are equalized.

Suspended between the lower ends of the arms bell crank 84, and pullsthe'stop 'II downward below the bottom of the box B so that the'springs8| urge the stop 11 to extend under the box B as shown and described inthe above referred to application. As the stop TI is thus shifted to theright the pawls 69 of the units 45 are returned to the positions inwhich they are shown in Fig. 7.

When the shafts 20 rotate, the vertical shafts 88 swing from thepositions in which they are shown in Fig. 4-to that shown in Fig. 5. Asthe shafts 88 are thus moved the links 94 retain the ends of the arms 9Iagainst outward movement, thus rotating the vertical shafts 88 andcausing the end flusher bars I M to be swung over the ends of the box B,as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, so as to move the pack of the box B inwardfrom over the ends of the box.

While the end flushers IOI are operating, the side flusher plates 40move inward so as to tuck the pack 0 inward from over the upper edges ofthe sides of the box B. It is thus clear that a complete overflowgathering function at the sides and ends of the box B is accomplished inresponse to movement of the stop II by the box B. As the vertical shafts88 swing inward toward the box B the rotation of these'shafts brings thefingers 95 into contact with the ends of the box B and centers thelatter longitudinally on the table I3, the bar 36 and its arcuate ends3'! centering the in transverse relation with the table I3.

As also clearly shown and described in the aforesaidcopending'application, the high end of the sloping conveyor section I05of the nailing table I3 is lowered by inward swinging of the sidefiushers so that this conveyor section is now level.

Afterthe flushers are moved in as shown in Fig. 5, the operator ofthemachine I0 depresses the foot pedal I26 causing the power unit I2 toelevate the mailing table I3. As the table I3 rises, the rollers 33onthe ends of the arms 30 (Fig. 2A) of the shafts 29 pass upward betweenthe posts IQ of the frame II and the earns 22, the latter pivoting abouttheir trunnions 2I to permit this. When the rollers 33 are carried abovethe cams 22 the latter are returned by the springs 24 to theirnormalpositions as shown in Fig. 2.

As the box B moves upward toward the nailing units-I06 the end fiusherbars IOI contact the fingers II-I of the lid end supporting bars II4 asshown in Fig. 10 and cause the bars II4 to be swung outward from underthe lid L allowing the ends of the lid to be held firmly between theflusher bars IM and the lid end pressing members II2. At this time therollers 98 on the levers 91 of the end flushers I0! contact the cam barsI as shown in Fig. 9 causing the end flusher bars IOI to be swung fromunder the ends "0f the lid L as shown in Fig. 11.

During the balance of the upward movement of the box B the lid L isnailed and strapped to the box, whereupon the operator releases thepedal I26 allowing the nailing table to start down. As the table movesdown, the rollers 33 contact the cam plates 22 on the posts IQ of theframe I! and the shafts 29 are rotated back to their normal position,the springs 55 of the units 45 being compressed and held in the position shown in Fig. 7 by the pawls 59' in readiness for the next liddingoperation. After the box B is lidded it is discharged from the machineI0 onto a suitable discharge conveyor I23.

Referring particularly to Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, I have shown thereina lidding machine I30 29 of the machine I0.

which includes a modified form of side tuckers I 3|. The machine I30 issubstantially identical with the aforedescribed machine I0 with theexception of the side tuckers IBi and the fact that the machine I30 isdesigned particularly to lid paper lined vegetable crates. It will benoted that similar parts of the machines I0 and I30 are indicated by thesame reference numerals. The side tuckers I3I of the machine I38 includehorizontal shafts I35, the latter being mounted and actuated in the samemanner as the shafts Extending upward from the shafts I are arms 35, tothe upper ends of which horizontal bars I36 are fixed. Also fixed to thearms 35 just below the bars 536 are bars I31, the ends of the latterbeing bent inward to provide crate positioning fingers I38. Fixed to thebars I36 and I3! are pairs of vertically aligned bearings I40 in whichrods I4I are slidably received. Mounted on the upper ends of the rods MIby means of lugs I42 are side tucker plates I43.

The plates I43 are urged upward tothe position shown in Figs. 12, 13,and 14 by compression springs I45, the upper ends of the latter bearingagainst pins I45 in the rods I ll. The pins I46 also limit the upwardmovement of the rods MI by contact with the upper bearings I50. When acrate, such as a lettuce crate C, is delivered onto the nailing table i3of the machine I30, contact of the crate with the stop ll causes theside tuckers I3I to be swung from the position shown in Fig. 13 to thatshown in Fig. 14, it being noted that the plates Hi3 (only one of thesebeing shown) are positioned inward from over the crate sides so as tomove the pack 0 and paper liner P thereof inward.

After the side tuckers I3I are actuated the crate is raised in the samemanner as described relative tothe machine I0 and the tucker plates I43are forced downward between the pack 0 and the sides of the crate C asshown in Fig. 15 by suitable stationary fingers I'll provided on, themachine I 39. This causes any surplus portion of the liner P at thesides of the crate C to be neatly tucked behind the crate sides while alid L is being pressed and nailed to the crate C.

To avoid unnecessary duplication, I have not shown end tuckers on themachine I30, it being understood that the end tuckers IOI shown on themachine I0 might be used on the machine I30.

Although I have shown and described but one preferred and one modifiedform of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications might be made in these without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the appended claims. In particular Iwould note that while the shafts 29 and I35 are shown as spring operatedto fold in the tuckers, these shafts might, where considerableresistance confronts the tuckers, be cam actuated as in theaforementioned copending application.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combinationof: cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in saidmachine;.means for moving overflow portions of the contents of said boxinward; and means for actuating said overflow moving means in responseto said stop being engaged by a box.

2. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled. boxes the combinationof cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in saidmachine; means for moving overflow portions of the contents of said boxinward; means for actuating said overflow moving means in response tosaid stop being engaged by a box; and means to move said overflow movingmeans to inactive position on said cover pressing mechanism completingits cycle of operation.

3. In a machine for pressing covers on overfllled boxes the combinationof: cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in saidmachine; means for moving overflow portions of the contents of said boxover the sides thereof inward; and means for actuating said overflowmoving means in response to said stop being engaged by a box.

4. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combinationof: cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box in place in saidmachine; tucker means for moving overflow portions of the contents ofsaid box over the ends thereof inward; and means for actuating saidoverflow moving means in response to said stop being engaged by a box.

5. In a machine for pressing covers on over- *fil1ed boxes thecombination of: cover pressing mechanism; a stop for stopping a box inplace in said machine; means for moving overflow portions of thecontents of said box over the sides and ends thereof inward; and meansfor actuating said overflow moving means in response to said stop beingengaged by a box.

6. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes, the combinationof: cover pressing mechanism; gathering means mounted on said machinefor movement inward toward a side of a box in said machine to moveoverflow inward from over said side; a second gathering means mountedwith said first gathering means so that said two gathering means move asa unit, said second gathering means being adapted to gather overflowinwardly from over an end of said box when in inward position; and meansto coordinately move said two gathering means to cause these to performtheir respective gathering functions.

7. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes, the combinationof cover pressing mechanism, gathering means movably mounted on saidmachine for movement inward toward a side of a box in said machine tomove overflow inwardly from over said side; a second gathering meanspivotally mounted on one end of said first gathering means for movementinwardly therewith; said second gathering means being adapted to gatheroverflow inwardly from over an end of said box when in inward positionand when rotated about the axis of its mounting; and means forcoordinately moving said two gathering means inwardly and rotating saidsecond gathering means as aforesaid to cause said two gathering means toperform their respective gathering functions.

8. In a machine for pressing covers on overflow boxes, the combinationof cover pressing mechanism; a pair of side gathering means mounted onsaid machine for movement inwardly from laterally retracted positionstoward opposite sides of a box in said machine to move overflow inwardlyfrom over said sides; a pair of end gathering means one of which ismounted with each of said side gathering means so that each such end andside gathering means move inwardly as a unit, said pair of end gatheringmeans being adapted to cooperatively gather overflow inwardly from overan end of said box when in inward positions; and means to coordinatelymove said two pairs of gathering means inwardly to cause theseto'perform their respective gathering functions as aforesaid.

9. In a machine for pressing covers'on overfllled boxes, the combinationof: cover pressing mechanism; a pair of gathering members pivotallymounted on different axes to swing in towards each other and against theoverflow along a single given straight edge of the top of a box in saidmachine, said edge constituting the upper boundary of one face only ofsaid box; and means for coordinately actuating said gathering members togather in the overflow along said edge.

10. A combination as in claim 9 in which said edge is at an end of saidbox; and means for moving said members out from over said box end justbefore the consummation of the cover pressing operation.

11. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combinationof: a crate supporting table; an overhead structure having cover endengaging surfaces; means causing relative vertical movement between saidtable and said structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of acrate resting on said table; a side tucker; means provided on said tableand supporting said side tucker adjacent the overflow along one side ofa crate resting on said table, said tucker supporting means beingadapted to be actuated to shift said tucker inwardly against saidoverflow and to permit relative vertical movement between said tuckerand said table; means for actuating said tucker supporting means forshifting said tucker inward to tuck said overflow over the interiorofsaid crate; and means for thereafter causing said tucker to extendvertically into said crate just-inside an adjacent upper side slatthereof 12. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes thecombination of: a crate supporting table; an overhead structure; meanscausing relative vertical movement between said table and said overheadstructure to press the ends. of the cover onto ends of the crate; tuckersupporting arms pivotally mounted on said table; a side tucker;yieldable means on the upper ends of said arms for supporting saidtucker with the latter disposed horizontally opposite the overflow alongone side of a crate resting on said table, said yieldable meanspermitting relative vertical movement between said tucker and saidtable; means for swinging said arms inward to cause said tucker toengage said overflow and to shift the tucker and the overflow inwardlyover the interior of said crate; and means on said overhead structurefor engaging said tucker incidental to said cover pressing operation tocause relative vertical movement between said table and said tucker toextend the latter into the interior of said crate just within anadjacent upper side slat thereof.

13. In a machine for pressing covers on overfllled boxes the combinationof: a crate supporting table; an overhead structure having cover endengaging surfaces; means causing relative vertical movement between saidtable and said structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of acrate resting on said table; a side tucker; means provided on said tableand supporting said side tucker adjacent the overflow along one side ofa crate resting on said table, said tucker supporting means beingadapted to be actuated to shift said tucker inwardly against saidoverflow and to permit relative vertical movement between said tuckerand said table; means for automatically actuating said tucker supportingmeans for shifting said tucker inward to tuck said overflow over theinterior of said crate before said lid is pressed onto the contents ofsaid crate with a'substantial pressure; and means for thereafteractuating said tucker supporting means in timed relation with said lidend pressing operation-to cause said tucker to extend vertically intosaid crate just inside an adjacent upper side slat thereof.

14. In a machine for pressing covers on overfilled boxes the combinationof: a crate supporting table; an overhead structure having cover endengaging surfaces; means for elevating said table towards said overheadstructure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting onsaid table; a side tucker; means provided on said table and supportingsaid side tucker adjacent the overflow along one side of a crate restingon said table, said tucker supporting means being adapted to be actuatedto shift said tucker inwardly against said overflow and to permitrelative vertical movement between said tucker and said table; means foractuating said tucker supporting means for shifting said tucker inwardto tuck said overflow over the interior of said crate; and means on saidoverhead structure for thereafter actuating said tucker supporting meansto cause relative vertical movement between said table and said tuckerto extend the latter vertically into said crate just inside an adjacentupper side slat thereof.

15. In a cover press the combination of means for pressing opposite endsof a cover onto opposite ends of an overfilled box; an end gatheringmember for pressing overflow product inward from over an end of said boxto prevent said overflow being pinched in said cover pressing operation;means for mounting said gathering member on a substantially verticalaxis to swing about said axis between gathering and non-gatheringpositions; and means on said last aforementioned means to permit saidgathering member to shift from gathering position to a nongatheringposition without substantial rotation of said gathering member aboutsaid vertical axis.

16. In a machine for pressing covers onto overfilled boxes, thecombination of: a table; an overhead structure having cover end engagingmeans; means causing relative vertical movement between said table andsaid structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate restingon said table; end gathering member supporting means on said table; andan end gathering member mounted on said supporting means to swingrelative to said supporting means about a substantially vertical axisbetween gathering and non-gathering positions; and means for moving saidend gathering member supporting means towards a crate resting on saidtable and, coordinately with said movement, swinging said gatheringmember into gathering position.

17. In a machine for pressing covers onto overfilled boxes, thecombination of: a table; an overhead structure having cover end engagingmeans;

means causing relative vertical movement between said table and saidstructure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting onsaid table; a pair of end gathering members for gathering overflowinwardly from over the ends of said crate; means for mounting said endgathering members on said table; means extending under and supportingends of a cover over ends of said crate during said cover pressingoperation, said end gathering members engaging and dislodging said coversupporting means from between said box and said cover towards theconclusion of said cover pressing operation.

18. In a machine for pressing covers onto overfilled boxes, thecombination of: a table; an overhead structure having cover end engagingmeans; means causing relative vertical movement between said table andsaid structure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate restingon said table; a pair of end gathering members for gathering overflowinwardly from over the ends of said crate; means for mounting said endgathering members on said table; means for shifting said end gatheringmembers into operative positions to move overflow inwardly from over theends of said crate; and means, associated in the aforesaid relativemovement with said overhead structure, for shifting said end gatheringmembers out from between said box ends and the ends of said cover duringa concluding portion of the relative movement of said table andstructure to press said cover on said crate.

19. In a machine for pressing covers onto overfilled boxes, thecombination of: a table; an overhead structure having cover end engagingmeans;

means causing relative vertical movement between said table and saidstructure to press the ends of a cover onto ends of a crate resting onsaid table; means for moving overflow inwardly from over the upper edgesof said crate; and crate responsive means for automatically operatingsaid last mentioned means to move said overflow as aforesaid in timedrelation to the delivery of said crate to said table and prior to theoperation of said relative movement means.

20. A combination as in claim 19 in which said automatic moving meansincludes power storage means in which power is stored by said relativemovement means during one cover pressing cycle, said power beingexpended in the operation of said overflow moving means incidental to asubsequent cover pressing cycle.

21. In a machine for pressing covers on overflow boxes, the combinationof: cover pressing mechanism; side gathering means normally spacedlaterally from a side of said box and adapted when moved inwardly towardsaid side to move overflow inwardly from over said side; and endgathering means normally spaced laterally away from the aforesaid sideof said box and adapted when shifted inwardly toward said side adjacentone of the ends of said box to gather overflow inwardly from over saidend; and means for coordinately shifting said gathering means from theirlaterally spaced positions inwardly to cause them to perform theirrespective gathering functions as aforesaid.

22. In a machine for pressing covers on overflow boxes, the combinationof: cover pressing mechanism; side gathering means normally spacedlaterally from a side of said box and adapted when moved inwardly towardsaid side to move overflow inwardly from over said side; and endgathering means normally spaced laterally away from the aforesaid sideof said box and adapted when shifted inwardly toward said side adjacentone of the ends of said box to gather overflow inwardly from over saidend; and means for simultaneously shifting said gathering means fromtheir laterally spaced positions inwardly to cause them to perform theirrespective gathering functions as aforesaid.

DANA E. KEECH,

